Media Update – BCA To Conduct Independent Investigation into Tanjong Katong Road Sinkhole Incident

Monday, 28 July 2025

Safety measures have been implemented

1. After being alerted to the incident, BCA took swift action to prioritise public safety. Construction works on site were halted, and a Stop Work Order has been issued to require the builder and supervising Qualified Person (QP) to implement safety measures. These included cordoning off the affected area, conducting inspections of nearby buildings, backfilling the adjacent shaft, and performing geophysical surveys to detect any underground voids. The backfilling of both the adjacent shaft and the sinkhole was completed in the early morning of 28 July 2025. This stabilised the incident site and the adjacent buildings remain safe.

2. Since the incident, BCA engineers have been conducting round-the-clock site monitoring to ensure that surrounding buildings, roads and infrastructure remain structurally safe.

3. As a precautionary measure, BCA had recommended that PUB implement a safety time-out for similar sewer construction projects across Singapore, and conduct a thorough review of current practices and safeguards at these worksites.

Investigations to Establish Root Cause of Incident

4. Now that the ground situation at the incident site has been stabilised, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is commencing an independent investigation into the sinkhole incident under the Building Control Act.

5. The investigation will examine the circumstances leading to the formation of the sinkhole, identify the root causes, and take the necessary actions against any non-compliance under the Building Control Act and Regulations.

6. Given the complexity of the incident, the investigations could take several months to complete. It will include detailed geotechnical analysis and other validation tests by BCA and its appointed consultants.

Download the PDF version of the Media Update here [PDF, 67 KB]